Hokkaido Nippon-Ham will not renew contracts with four players for next season

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham announced that they have notified four players, pitcher Kotaro Seimiya, player Uta Sakaguchi, pitcher Yamato Kato, and pitcher Ryodai Matsumoto, that they will not be renewing their contracts for the next season. Although pitcher Kotaro Seimiya earned a standard contract this season, he finished with only one appearance in the game against the Chiba Lotte Marines on August 21.

Tohoku Rakuten Eagles: Shinya Tsuruoka Appointed as Coach

Tohoku Rakuten Eagles announced that Shinya Tsuruoka will be appointed as a coach for the 2027 season. Tsuruoka served as a player-coach for the battery for three years from 2019 to 2021 with Hokkaido Nippon-Ham.

▼Shinya Tsuruoka Coach Profile▼
・Date of Birth: April 11, 1981 (45 years old)
・Place of Birth: Kagoshima Prefecture
・Throw/Hit: Right/Right
・Height / Weight: 176cm / 78kg
・Playing Career
Shonan High School - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Yokohama / Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Yokohama baseball club - Nippon-Ham Fighters / Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters - Fukuoka Softbank Hawks - Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
・Coaching Career
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

Saitama Seibu Lions to dispatch Haruse Narita, Keishin Saito, and Yuta Nakamisa to the Puerto Rico Winter League

Saitama Seibu Lions will dispatch pitcher Haruse Narita, pitcher Keishin Saito, and player Yuta Nakaza to the "Puerto Rico Winter League" for the purpose of player development.

▼Comment from pitcher Haruse Narita▼
"I decided to participate because I want to gain various experiences in Puerto Rico to meet the club's expectations and lead to a breakthrough next season. I don't know what kind of role I will have there, but I want to make the most of my strengths even at a high level and serve as a closer against opposing hitters. I hope to polish my skills and deepen my knowledge through this winter league, and return as a more grown person."

▼Comment from pitcher Keishin Saito▼
"I want to make next year a year of competition. In order to win a spot on the 70-man roster, I volunteered to participate, thinking that I want to challenge myself in the high-level winter league and grow further. I want to level up one or two more steps and increase my repertoire. Along with leaving good results in this winter league, I will do my best to acquire the ability to be called to the first-team camp in Nango and start in the first-team camp next year."

▼Comment from player Yuta Nakaza▼
"I volunteered to participate in the winter league to overcome the challenge of responding to powerful fastballs, which I felt when I was promoted to the first team this April. I believe that if I can catch the fastball properly, I will be able to think more simply at the plate. Also, since I will be facing pitchers I have no experience playing against there, my goal is to acquire the ability to adapt to opponents I am facing for the first time, with an eye on the first-team stage. This season, I felt frustrated because I couldn't break into the first-team members. I will do my best to grow in this winter league and show my presence among the main players at next spring's camp."

Saitama Seibu Lions will not renew contracts for next season with seven players, including Ryota Itokawa and Tokumasa Chano.

The Saitama Seibu Lions have announced that they have informed pitcher Ryota Itokawa, Mikato Aoyama​ ​Takeru Sasaki pitcher Kuan-Chen Lin, as well as outfielders Shoya Shoya Makino, Tokumasa Chano, Yuudai Furukawa Furukawa, and Kanshin Hayashi that pitcher will not be offered contracts for next season. Player comments follow below.


▼Comments pitcher Ryota Itokawa ▼
"Looking back on my three years with The Lions, I am truly sorry that I was unable to fully meet the team's expectations and contribute more. On the other hand, I also feel that I steadily improved from my first year to my second, and from my second to my third, albeit slowly. I believe that The Lions' environment, where I was taught from various angles by the coaches and staff, including biomechanics specialists, contributed to my growth."

What I remember most vividly is the game last year at Belluna Dome where I pitched in the top of the 12th inning with the score tied. I still clearly remember the cheers when I closer mound in a tense situation for the first time and retired the side in order. I also remember the game this year at ES CON FIELD Hokkaido where I recorded my first hold.

This year, compared to previous years, I've had so many more opportunities to hear people say, "I bought jersey!" or "I bought your towel!" That's why my biggest regret to the fans is that I wasn't able to show them me playing in jersey for each event at Belluna Dome. Especially after the summer, I received tremendous support even when I took mound in the farm league. That support really motivated me and made me feel very strong, and it made me think, "I still have a long way to go." Thank you very much."

▼Comments pitcher Mikato Aoyama ▼
"During my first two years with the team, I was given many opportunities to pitch even though I didn't know anything, and I was able to experience various roles such as starting and relieving. On the other hand, things haven't gone well in the last two years, and I'm frustrated that I haven't been able to produce results that would allow me to establish my role. My fastball velocity, which had dropped due to fatigue, didn't come back easily, and conversely, I was in a vicious cycle where I was trying too hard to increase my velocity and lost control."

This year, I was invited to the first team's training camp, and I was given a chance to play with the first team in May, but I wasn't able to seize that opportunity. I was in good condition during the summer and was able to pitch throughout the year without injury, which was good, but I'm disappointed that I couldn't translate that into results.

I will never forget the cheers from the fans when I made my first save and when I achieved my first professional win with shutout game. I regret that I wasn't able to perform well enough to hear those cheers many more times, but the support from the fans remains strongly in my heart. These four years went by so quickly, but thank you so much for all your support."

▼Comment pitcher Takeru Sasaki ▼
"It went by so quickly, but these past six years have been incredibly fulfilling, filled with many different experiences. Despite being drafted straight out of the corporate league as an immediate asset, I still had many shortcomings in terms of technical skills. I worked hard, including during my rehabilitation period, to become a full-fledged professional baseball player. That's why I'm so disappointed that things have turned out this way."

Over the past six years, I have truly received support from so many people. Even during my rehabilitation, many people, including players on the first team, sent me messages and spoke to me when we met, making me strongly feel that there were people watching out for me. In particular, pitcher coach Toyoda helped me find a place on the first team and gave me many opportunities to play. He also looked out for me during my rehabilitation, so I feel both grateful and apologetic because I wanted to live up to his expectations more.

And I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the fans. Because bullpen at Belluna Dome is close to the left field stands, I was able to feel your cheers up close. For me, it was the best cheering in the world. I was truly happy to be able to hear those cheers on mound. Looking back, I think that having that moment in my life was the happiest thing of all. I was able to continue through the long rehabilitation period because of all of you who supported me. Your cheers motivated me to stand on that mound again and supported me in my efforts to return. Thank you so much for these six years."

▼ Shoya Makino 's Comment▼
"These eight years have flown by. As a developmental player, I had the experience of climbing my way up from a difficult situation, and I am grateful that I was able to play again as a regular player. When I first joined the team, it was an unknown world, and there were many amazing players and seniors around me. I wasn't able to achieve the results I wanted in that tough world, and my playing career didn't turn out the way I had envisioned, but I was blessed with great seniors, coaches, and juniors."

In particular, I have very fond memories of the day I returned to the main roster from the minor leagues, when I teamed up with my classmate and teammate Yutaro Watanabe as a battery, and we stood together on the podium after shutout game win. To all the fans, thank you for your support up until now. I'm really disappointed that I couldn't produce results and contribute to the team, but your passionate and warm support has always been a source of strength for me."

▼Comment from Tokumasa Chano ▼
"When my transfer to The Lions was decided, I wondered what kind of environment it would be, but the players and staff all welcomed me warmly. Everyone was so kind and spoke to me from the very beginning, which I really appreciated. It was a short period of only one year, but it was a very good experience. Including my time with Orix Buffaloes, the most memorable moment for me was the opening game where I was given a starting starting line-up. That's where my professional baseball career began, so that opening game is the most memorable for me. To all The Lions fans, thank you so much for all your support during this short one year."

▼Comment from Yuudai Furukawa ▼
"Looking back on these past four years, I regret that I couldn't establish my own playing style and played with uncertainty. I kept searching for what kind of player I should become. This year in particular, I thought I had a pretty good start in spring training, but then I got injured and had to leave. Even after returning, my condition didn't improve, I couldn't produce results, and I felt like I couldn't do anything, so it was a tough year. Watching the players playing in the first team, I felt frustrated and jealous that I wasn't there and couldn't be a valuable asset to the team."

On the other hand, experiencing the atmosphere of the first team last year was a great experience for me. The day I first joined the first team and the day I got my first hit are my most cherished memories. After my first hit, I received so many congratulatory messages from my teammates and friends back home that I couldn't reply to them all, and I was truly happy. Those two days made me strongly determined to keep working hard. I'm sorry to the fans that I couldn't be a valuable asset to The Lions. Thank you so much for all your support."

▼Comment from player Kuan-Chen Lin ▼
"I've had a lot of injuries these past two years, and I haven't been able to baseball the way I wanted. I've had repeated lower body injuries, and this year I even had surgery, so I've had fewer opportunities to play than in my first year. I joined the professional league expecting it to be tough, but it's actually even tougher than I imagined. Seeing my teammates working so hard in practice and games made me feel frustrated."

This year in particular, I learned a lot about how to use my body, the core strength and range of motion that I lacked, and I realized the importance of building a body that won't get injured. Even though I wasn't able to play in many matches, I was deeply moved by the sight of fans cheering me on by wearing my jersey or carrying my merchandise. I am truly grateful to everyone who has supported me for the past two years. Thank you so much."

Chiba Lotte Marines conduct a post-draft visit to second-round pick Yudai Maeda

Chiba Lotte Marines conducted a draft appointment visit for second-round pick pitcher Yudai Maeda at Takaoka Daiichi High School. Amateur Scout Director Yasuhiro Enoki and Scout in charge Ryohei Tanaka attended.

▼Comment from pitcher Maeda▼
"I want to become a player who is sincerely supported by all the fans and become a pitcher who can lead the team to victory. My current goal is a velocity of 160 km/h, so I want to work hard toward that."

Orix Buffaloes will not sign standard player contracts for next season with five pitchers, including Ryuhei Sotani and Atsuya Fujikawa.

Orix Buffaloes announced that they have notified pitcher Kohei Azuma, pitcher Ryuhei Sotani, pitcher Atsuya Fujikawa, pitcher Kaede Yokoyama, and pitcher Kento Kawase that they will not be offering them standard player contracts for the next season.

Pitcher Azuma underwent ligament repair surgery with an internal brace for a right elbow medial collateral ligament injury in September, pitcher Sotani underwent left elbow medial collateral ligament reconstruction surgery on the 23rd of this month, and pitcher Fujikawa and pitcher Yokoyama underwent right elbow medial collateral ligament reconstruction surgery in August.

Fukuoka Softbank will not sign contracts for next season with Shunsuke Iwai, Toshiya Nakamura, and others.

Fukuoka Softbank, Shunsuke Iwai pitcher, Shun Antoku pitcher, Toshiya Nakamura pitcher, Masato Sagara pitcher, Taisei Kimura pitcher, Yuto Akihiro The players were notified that their contracts would not be renewed for the next season. Yuwa Miyasato pitcher, Toya Kawaguchi pitcher, Sota Tanoue pitcher, Jumpei Okaue pitcher, Akito Sasaki pitcher, Kota Makihara player, Kaito Shigematsu player, Kota Sato It was also announced that the players had been informed that their development contracts would not be renewed for the next season.

Fukuoka Softbank's Isami Nomura completes back surgery

Fukuoka Softbank player Isami Nomura underwent "Right L5S Transforaminal Full Endoscopic Foraminoplasty" for "Right L5S Lumbar Intervertebral Foraminal Stenosis" at a hospital in Amagasaki City. He is expected to return to competition in 2 to 3 months.

Nomura appeared in 66 games with the first team this season, recording a .234 batting average, 5 Home Runs, and 10 RBI. He has not appeared in a regular season game since the farm team game against Chunichi on September 3.

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